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Hull KR winger Joe Burgess says he is “not surprised” he missed out on Brian McDermott’s England performance squad earlier this year, but is hopeful he can work his way back into contention ahead of this year’s World Cup. Burgess played for England in the third and final Ashes Test at Headingley last year, taking his total caps to four, a year on from his first three England appearances back in 2015. However, the treble-winner was not included in the first squad that McDermott released, which included 38 players from both Super League and the NRL. The former Wigan and Salford man is his own harshest critic, and knows that his performances at the start of the year weren’t good as he knows they could be, so it didn’t come as a shock to him to learn he had missed out on initial selection. “I’m not surprised that I’m not [included],” he told BBC Radio Humberside. “If I was performing how I did last year and I didn’t get named, then I’d have been a bit frustrated, but as I said, my performances have been a bit up and down.” However, similar to last year Burgess wasn’t included in Shaun Wane’s mid-season performance squad, yet still managed to earn a place in the Ashes side, so hope is not lost yet, he just needs to continue the form he has shown since returning from a week’s lay-off a month ago. “It’s never too late,” he added. “There’s still plenty more rugby to go. I don’t think about it too much, I just think about performing, and that’s what I did last year.” NRL lowball Super League, Hull FC’s gargantuan signing, and new title favourites – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show Hull KR star Joe Burgess shocked by star teammate’s England omission One man who Burgess believes should have been named in the extended squad is teammate Tom Davies, who has had a stellar year for the Robins, scoring 14 tries in 28 appearances. However, it’s not his try-scoring form that has made him so crucial to the side. Davies sits top of the Super League for carries this season, where he averages just over 21 per game. He is also second in the metres made column, and he averages 164 per game, so it is his work out of backfield that needs more recognition, Burgess believes. Talking in support of his teammate, the winger said: “Tom, I’m surprised at [not being included], because he’s been the most consistent. He’s probably been our best player this year. I’m quite gutted that he wasn’t named in it.” Davies had another backer last week, in the shape of boss Willie Peters, who said that the ex-Catalans finisher has the attributes needed to thrive in a World Cup environment. 1 Comment - Doesn’t matter who is picked – we are winning diddly-squat. Why care?